Love Letting Your Dog Sleep In Bed With You? Study Just Gave You The Ammo To Quiet The Critics

If spending nights with your dog sound asleep by your side has gotten you criticism from your friends, your mother, and perhaps even your partner, well, you can tell them that it is, in fact, a necessity. There are even expert-backed receipts. Everyone knows that walking your dog is great for your brain health, but you know what else is good for you? Cuddling up next to your dog in bed as often as possible. No, they're not disturbing your sleep; in fact, you are probably disturbing them. We didn't just pull that bold statement out of thin air either — it's backed by a 2026 study published in PLOS One. 

Now, there are some caveats. The study was done using specific dog breeds — huskies and malamutes — so it's not clear whether the same applies for all dog breeds, but we highly encourage you to try it out for yourself with whatever dog breed you chose as your companion. While the study was relatively small, the findings were fascinating. Researchers didn't find any proof that dogs disrupt their humans' sleep, noting that data indicated that owners tend to move around in their sleep before their dogs do, which meant they woke their furry companions, not the other way around. 

Some participants reported poorer sleep when they had more than one dog with them on the bed, but sleep data usually showed that they hadn't actually had poorer sleep. One of the study's authors, Ming Fei Li, noted in a press release that the study's participants shared that allowing their dogs to sleep on the bed with them made them feel safe. "We do think this enhanced safety serves a function to bolster our bond with dogs," co-author Lavania Nagendran added (via the Toronto Sun).

We're all well aware that a decent morning routine can positively affect our day, but we have to go to bed on time to make it work, and that's usually where trouble creeps in. Aside from the possibility that your dog can improve your sleep, there's a good chance getting one could help you build better routines too. "Dogs want things done on a certain rhythm, and that can be really positive for people who struggle with that," sleep medicine expert W. Christopher Winter asserted to NBC News. Because of their preference for strict routines, your dog can remind you when it's time to go for a walk, eat your lunch, and when you should start winding down for bed. He added, "It's the consistent nature of sleep that is really important, and I think dogs do a wonderful job of creating that." 

Several fascinating things happen to your body when you have a pet, and experiencing less stress is one of those wonderful side effects. In an article she penned for Psychology Today, Diana E Dreher, Ph.D., pointed out that research from both 2025 and 2026 found that dogs can help lower stress levels. These studies discovered that the presence of their four-legged friends spiked their humans' oxytocin levels (the hormone responsible for feelings of trust and love), while lowering cortisol (the infamous stress hormone). 

Further, the research showed that the dogs benefitted from their humans' company too, with elevated oxytocin levels of their own. In a world where we're increasingly stressed-out and anxious, the antidote might simply be to adopt a dog — and cuddle up next to them at night without guilt. Happy snoozing!